SAY HELLO TO OUR 2021-2022 OFFICERS!

President

IVette Zapata

Hi everyone! My name is Ivette and I am this year’s POPS President.
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I am a fourth year biology major from the Houston area. In my free time I love to dance, sing, hangout with friends, and spend time outdoors. I am so excited to meet everyone and to help you all become optometrists. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me :)
See y’all at our next meeting❤️

External Vice  President

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Cara lou villalba duka

Hi everyone! My name is Cara Duka, and I am the External Vice President for POPS this year!

​I am a third-year Nutritional Sciences BS major from San Antonio, TX.  In my free time, I enjoy watching animes and kdramas, looking for new places to try food, listening to music, dancing, and singing!  I joined POPS to find a community with the same interests and ambitions in optometry.  Joining POPS gave me the opportunity to learn the process of what it takes to prepare for optometry school, including help with studying for the OAT and how to handle interviews with schools.  Feel free to reach out anytime if you have questions!  I look forward to meeting everyone :)

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INternal Vice President

​Gina Liles

Hello hello! My name is Gina Liles, and I’m your new Internal Vice President this year. I’m a senior Biology BSA major, I’ve been a part of POPS since my sophomore year, and last year I was Treasurer.

Currently I work as an optometric scribe, but when I’m not working or in school, I enjoy cooking/eating, spending time with the fam and my 2 pups, going on *foodie* adventures, and watching TV— my favorites include reality shows (right now my obsession is Bachelor in Paradise), murder mysteries, throwbacks & anything Disney! EYE love everything about POPS, and I know y’all will too. Super excited to see new & familiar faces in person again!

Secretary

IZZY park

Hey y'all! My name is Izzy Park and I am your secretary for this year.

I'm a fourth year Psychology B.S. major and I'm from Houston, Texas. When I'm not studying or working as an optometric technician I like to work out, shop, watch T.V., and hang out with friends! POPS has presented me with so many opportunities and resources which have allowed me to further grow my passion for optometry! 

I'm so excited to meet all of y'all! 

Treasurer 

melanie PHAM

Hi y’all, my name is Melanie Pham and I’m POPS’ treasurer for the year!

​I’m a Senior Nutrition major with an unhealthy obsession with energy drinks, therefore a waking contradiction. My favorite thing about optometry besides the satisfaction of helping others improve their vision is playing with colored contacts! If y’all ever have any questions about anything at all even if it’s not related to the field like the best show to binge, feel free to hit me up!

Social Chair

Jackie valdez

Hi everyone! My name is Jackie Valdez, and I am the Social Chair for POPS this year!

​I’m a third-year Neuroscience BS major from Houston, Texas. Outside of school, I love spending time with my friends, trying new foods and watching movies, and am always looking for book and movie recommendations! I also enjoy going on picnics to watch the sunset and destress with friends. Outside of POPS, I am also involved in a mentoring program in the College of Natural Sciences at UT for first-year students. I am so excited to meet you all this year and create new memories as we learn more about the field of optometry. Welcome to POPS!! :)

Volunteer Coordinator

Mindy fu

Hi everyone! My name is Mindy Fu, and I am your POPS volunteer coordinator this year! 🤓
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I am a second year biology major from Galveston, TX. 🌊
I love:
​- baking
- hiking
- watching movies
- eating at cool restaurants
- sharing dad jokes
sooooo… hmu if you want to do any of those with me :3

Very excited for a POPpin year with you all and hope you don’t think I am too CORNEA! 

Historian

Katherine la

Hello everyone!!

​My name is Katherine La and I’m this year’s POPS Historian! I’m a third year majoring in biology and minoring in business. In my free time, you’ll find me exploring new places, hanging out with family/friends, watching TV, reading, or going out for a walk/ bike ride to destress. I joined POPS to engage with those who are passionate about optometry as much as I am. POPS has not only helped me achieve that but it has also guided me to new opportunities and allowed my love for this field to deepen. If you have any questions or need anything, reach out to me, we are in this journey together! I’m super excited to meet everyone!! :)

Officer  Duties  &  Responsibilities

President

• Be the official representative of POPS at all events, meetings, and conferences
• Preside over organization meetings and activities
• Initiate committees as the need arises, with the consent of the organization
• Reserve rooms and plan for general meetings and officer meetings
• Invite guest speakers
• Organize all tours, field trips, and major events
• Help keep officers on task and aid with certain responsibilities as needed
• Send out all job opportunity emails to paid members when available
• Keep organization’s documents and other miscellaneous papers together
• Pass on all documents and miscellaneous papers to the President-elect
• Be the authorized representative for all of the organization’s financial holdings alongside the Treasurer

External Vice President

• Assume Presidential duties if the President is absent from meetings
• Assist President in managing and coordinating meetings, events, and activities
• Attend other functions in the President’s absence
• Write "Thank You" cards to all of our guest speakers and buy gifts of gratitude for selected speakers
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the President
• Compile a list of doctors that are willing to let students shadow them
• Secure sponsorships for organization

Internal Vice President

• Oversee OptoFamily program and keep track of OptoFamily points
• Design and order T-shirts
• Seek out and be in contact with other university-affiliated organizations and departments as directed by the President
• Create fliers for upcoming general meetings
• Collect extra brochures and documents from speakers and pass out when necessary

Secretary

• Create and update website
• Take attendance at all meetings and events
• Pass out and compile the info sheets on all members
• Keep track of membership points for all events and meetings
• Make the newsletters for each meeting and pass out to members
• Update and manage the website regularly with announcements, member points, and other miscellaneous documents

Treasurer

• Collect dues and keep record of all payments
• Deposit money into the bank
• Reimburse members for meeting supplies, t-shirts, etc.
• Set budgets during the year including meetings, socials, etc.
• Organize and oversee fundraisers
• Be an authorized representative and keep records of all transactions with the bank

Volunteer Coordinator

• Inform and remind members about new volunteer opportunities
• Help promote volunteer events related to the healthcare profession
• Be aware of possible volunteer opportunities throughout the semester
• Communicate and coordinate volunteering events with organizations both on-campus and off-campus and update the President with logistics
• Attend all volunteering events

Social Chair

• Plan, manage, and oversee all social events during the year
• Coordinate intramural sports
• Plan end-of-year banquet
• Manage and oversee all social media alongside the Historian

Historian

• Take pictures at meetings and events and upload to the website
• Create banner design for UH Spring Conference
• Organize the scrapbook with help from members
• Create banquet slideshow at the end of the year
• Create signage, posters, and graphics for events
• Manage and oversee all social media alongside the Social Chair